Runners gather near the starting line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon outside U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis before sunrise on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Kenyan-born runners Victor Shitsama and Lilian Chebii went on to win the men’s and women’s races, with Chebii breaking a 25-year-old women’s course record. | Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Twin Cities Marathon 2026 Starting Line by Tom Gitaa of Mshale Newspaper
Runners gather near the starting line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon outside U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis before sunrise on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Kenyan-born runners Victor Shitsama and Lilian Chebii went on to win the men’s and women’s races, with Chebii breaking a 25-year-old women’s course record. | Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kenyan-born runners swept the men’s and women’s titles at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, with Lilian Chebii breaking a 25-year-old women’s course record and Victor Shitsama winning in his marathon debut.

Chebii, 32, won the women’s race in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 26 seconds, breaking the course record of 2:26:51 set by Russia’s Zinaida Semenova in 2001 and matched by Irina Permitina in 2004.

Chebii finished more than six minutes ahead of defending champion Jane Bareikis, who was second in 2:32:04. Caroline Hill finished third in 2:33:26.

The victory continued Chebii’s success in Minnesota after she won Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth in 2025.

In the men’s race, Shitsama, 28, pulled away late to win in 2:12:20. The Kenyan-born former Oklahoma State University runner was competing in his first marathon.

Andrew Kaye of Colorado finished second in 2:12:36, while Eritrean runner Amanuel Tikue was third in 2:12:58.

Minnesota runners claimed both titles in the accompanying TC 10 Mile. Leo Goodman of Hopkins won the men’s race in 49:14, followed by Emmet Anderson of Staples in 50:26 and Daniel Docherty of St. Paul in 50:57.

Elizabeth Klecker of St. Paul won the women’s 10-mile race in 57:33. Heather Kampf of Minneapolis was second in 58:38, and Morgan Richter of Edina finished third in 58:52.

Chicago racers swept the marathon wheelchair divisions. Jeyna Senbeta won the men’s race in 1:46:09, while Hannah Babalola successfully defended her women’s title in 2:39:11.

The 26.2-mile Twin Cities Marathon began in downtown Minneapolis and finished outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.

Author

  • Mshale Logo 03252014

    The byline “By Mshale Staff” is used for stories that involve limited or no original reporting by our newsroom. These stories are often based on press releases or information provided by official sources, including corporations, government agencies and public institutions.

    The byline also may be used for reports compiled from multiple contributors, wire services, previously published material or aggregated sources when listing individual authors is impractical. Outside sources are generally identified within the story.

    View all posts
Mshale Logo 03252014

About Mshale Staff

The byline “By Mshale Staff” is used for stories that involve limited or no original reporting by our newsroom. These stories are often based on press releases or information provided by official sources, including corporations, government agencies and public institutions. The byline also may be used for reports compiled from multiple contributors, wire services, previously published material or aggregated sources when listing individual authors is impractical. Outside sources are generally identified within the story.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
loadingLoading...

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR